Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-10-25
AZ d glaaOe t6oy took In Tho whole stdto

n Directly DclOw Snt inc ITlnCNss, UcuulhB
over her painting, Thank Heavenl the
sketch was not yet finished.
At least two days work upon il were nee
essary Gro it could be taken, even in tho |
rough state, TO finish in the studio AT the |
expiration Of that time he hoped to return,
and-thenl
Close beside Natalie sat Lydia, an open |
book in her lap, lost in brown study.
Tho air was very calm and the two spies,
without much effort could hear the slight
est sound below The Princess, bending
low over her painting was saying,in aquiet,
Indifferent tone of voice:
Lydia, who was that with whom you
were talking last night"
Lydia became suddenly wide-awalzo, and
nervously replied:
"You mean the young American with
whom was teie-d-tete, as you came down
the stairs, l suppose. Whyp
"Because," said the Princess, turning her
large dark eyes toward her questioner, in
frank, Ingenious manner, "because he had
20 sad face, felt interested in him. Do
you know his historyp
II was about to ask when you had met
him, Natalie, and what you knew about
him"
Fairfax's face flushed crimson at the Prin-
cess mention Of himself. Now that he had
become the subject Of their conversation, no
could be eavesdropper no longer and at
tempted to pull Dick away by force. But
that wide-awake individual suddenly be-
came as obdurate as his friend. In loud,
clear whisper he said:
"If you don't unhand me I'll yell; and
then your game II be up"
Fairfax, surprised at this unexpected turn
in affairs, and recognizing tho fact that
Richards obstinacy had become aroused,
retired in confusion.
A secret joy filled his heart. Natalie had
acknowledged an interestin him-more than
his widest dreams could have realized To
be sure it was contemplativo sort Of an
interest, but she hadn't vouchsafcd oven
that to any other male-at least 30 Dick
had said.
For the moment, the foolish young follow
gave himself up to Joy, and had the effront-
cry to thank Heaven for his luck.
Meanwhile, the incorrigible Dick, who
was now in his element chuckled to him
self and lay there listening with all his ears.
At Lydia's question, Natalie turned to-
wards her with unfeigned surprise-every
thing about this girl was genuine; abe OK
pressed nothing she did not feel-and 70
marked, almost dropping her painting
palette;
''My dear Lydia, II neer san him be-
fore What do you meant"
"Then, why did you both blush 80 con-
sciously when your eyes metl never saw
man so disturbed as he was when he
caught sight Of you"
A slight flush suffused the face Of No
tale, as she answered:
~ wasn't aware that no was disturbed.
| If so, 1t may have been at finding himself
the cynosure of o staring pair Of eyes. 1
was simply annoyed at finding myself
caught gazing so boldly at an entire stran-
ger"
''That may be true in your case, but cor
tainly not in his. No strange man ever yet
could be so visibly embarrassed as he at
finding himself the objective point of o
pretty woman's eye" replied the wise
Lydia, with aSolomon-lilse air. $50, there,
my dear, you're entirely wrong, know"
''You may just bet on that, ma ehere," said
the irrepressible Richard, soto vOes from
above.
"And,n continued she, ''to tell the truth
you and have no secrets, you know-pm
little curious as TO the history Of the fellow
myself
Here she slyly bent her head down and ex-
amined her boot for moment "And I'm
going TO amuse myself by studying him q
trifie. That ay-away, Dick Oxford dick
made a wry face and remarked aside;
Thank you ma'am"-" says he is Of noble
birth and can trace his lineage back TO Lord
Fairfax; that he is gentleman Of leisure;
but, from feeling of duty, has accepted q
very high position in some department OF
Government"
''May God forgive me for that whopperw
muttered the penitential Dick TO himself
"But," he added, alphabetically, "he GER
tainly is not Of ignoble birth, and / do be-
lieve he is q descendant of the old Fairfaxes.
He Is a gentleman of leisure-at present, at
least, until school-teaching begins. And I'm
sure 1t was feeling Of duty Ito himself, TO
save himself from emigrating to the poor
house, that led him to accept high position
in the department Of Recommendation !
of set of spoiled youngsters. So that lies
not SO bad after all, - added he, with feel
ing of comfort
"But, at any rate" continued Lydia,
"whatever his position, or from whom de-
scended, he has interested me as few men
haven
The imaginative Dick thought he could
perceive shade of jealousy creep up the
Princess back hair and spread itself over
her hat. But he could not sec her face, for
she bent moro lowly over her work and
vouchsafed not a word in reply.
snow Just look at that" meditated Dick.
''Here am dying to fall in love with that
detestable Lydia and to have her fall In
love with me, been trying these hundreds
| of years -more, or less''-he added, half
explanatorily-"and it don't work worth o
fig. Along comes this penniless Yankee
confound the dog l can't help admiring
him-and scoops in, not only Lydia, but that
| frigid German iceberg, without the slightest
effort, or apparent intention, even. Hang
it ALI can't see how he does It; still he
did look deucedly well last night"
Here Natalie began humming a strain
from the "Addio." Lydia interrupted her
| with:
"How he started when you struck into
that song, last night And l thought /
heard him say: 1T points my fater"
Natalie laid down her palette and brush,
and leaning back in her chair, turned her
face curiously toward Lydia, saying:
'Do you know that is very strangei Tho
moment saw his face, that song, which had
been haunting me more or less during tho
entire evening, as associated with my lost
knife, flashed across me with redoubled
energy. 1t seemed to tell his history and
No,., ,-n,t now thaaa lara hia NUN